The first F-35A Litening II deployment to EuropeRAF LakenheathApril 2017

The first operational F-35A Litening II deployment to Europe
Eight F-35As from the 34th Fighter Squadron 'Rude Rams', 388th Fighter Wing from Hill Air Force Base at Utah deploy to Europe for the first time and year since the F-35A was declared combat capable.
RAF Lakenheath stated that as part of the training deployment, the aircraft will forward deploy to NATO nations to maximize training opportunities, build partnerships with allied air forces and gain a broad familiarity of Europe's diverse operating conditions. The introduction of the premier fifth-generation fighter to the European area of responsibility brings with it state-of-the-arts sensors, interoperability and a broad array of advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions that will help maintain the fundamental sovereignty rights of all nations.

The squadrons started the training deployment by flying simple missions and have progressed to more complex scenarios."We've been flying basic fighter maneuvers and air combat maneuvers, as well as air to ground missions," said Lt. Col. George Watkins, a F-35 pilot and the 34th Fighter Squadron commander. "We fight air to air to get to simulated ground targets and once we take them out, we fight air-to-air to get back to our designated 'safe' zone."

The squadrons have also been flying against each other. F-15Cs are well known for being an air-dominance platform and the F-35A pilots are enjoying the unique opportunity to fly against other Airmen in a foreign country in an airspace they’ve never before flown in with the F-35A.